Giant City Stone Fort Site

Giant City Stone Fort is an archaeological site with stone wall foundations located on a ridge within Giant City State Park in Illinois. The remains form an enclosed area that once covered about 1.4 acres with visible base structures still standing.

Construction took place between 600 and 900 AD during the Late Woodland period when ancient peoples built similar structures across the region. It remains one of approximately ten comparable sites discovered throughout Southern Illinois.

The site served as a gathering place for ceremonies and rituals rather than military defense as once believed. Communities came together here for important communal events and spiritual observances.

The site is accessible through hiking trails within Giant City State Park and welcomes visitors from sunrise to sunset. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the terrain is uneven and the trails include inclines and natural obstacles.

Early European settlers dismantled the original stone walls and reused the stones for their own buildings during colonial times. The Civilian Conservation Corps reconstructed the structures in the 1930s to preserve what remained of this ancient site.

Location: Jackson County

GPS coordinates: 37.62330,-89.19690

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:08